Monday, June 29, 2009

Where can I find some great old time sermons? How about some pastoral help or help starting a church? Where can I get some good sermon illustrations? What about good, honest book reviews?

A great source is the Biblical Evangelist edited by Evangelist Robert L. Sumner. Sumner has been pastor, evangelist, author for many years. He is an old time, independent Baptist fundamentalist. Sumner served as associate editor of the independent Baptist Sword of the Lord with John R. Rice.

R. L. Sumner has known virtually every fundamentalist leader of the last century. He is author of over 30 books. Included are commentaries on Ephesians, Hebrews, and James. They are filled with sermon illustrations. Other books include: Hell Is No Joke, Fundamentalist Foibles, Does the Bible Teach That Water Baptism is a Necessary Requirement for Salvation?, Powerhouse, and many others.

Wait a minute. Are you trying to get us Southern Baptists to leave the SBC and become independent Baptists? No. Dr. Sumner is not out to fight or destroy the SBC. He will sharply oppose what he thinks is wrong, whether it be SBC, independent Baptist, or whatever. But he often refers favorably to Southern Baptists and Baptist Press.

A couple of years ago I had some extra copies of the Biblical Evangelist that I passed out in our Baptist Association. To explain it I said I was not trying to start an independent movement. But if you read Sumner’s material and Rick Warren’s writings and mix them up, you’ll be a perfectly balanced Southern Baptist :-).

Adrian Rogers wrote, “This work of Robert Sumner on the Book of Hebrews represents the wisdom and experience God has built into him through years of fruitful ministry… Doubtless, much of this work will find its way into my own preaching. I commend it joyfully and fully.”

Subscribe to the print copy of Biblical Evangelist today. Just click the icon under “Sites I Mainly Agree With” at the bottom right of this blog, then click “subscribe” and fill out the form The website just features a few articles, so subscribe to the print copy. A subscription is free; a letter asking for a donation to this ministry is mailed once a year. (Send them a good donation.) Or, you can send your mailing address and request a subscription at the address above.

R. L. Sumner is an interesting writer. You may lose some sleep when you get your issue of Biblical Evangelist; it is difficult to put down. No, you will not agree with everything. Sumner is sure to make you angry about something, but you‘ll get over it. In the process, you’ll be encouraged in doctrine, preaching, history, evangelism.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor; June 29, AD 2009.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A careful man I ought to be,A little fellow follows me.I do not dare to go astray,For fear he’ll go the self-same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes,What’er he sees me do he tries.Like me some day he’s going to be,That little chap who follows me.

I must remember as I go,Through summer’s sun and winter’s snow,I’m building for the years to be,Cause a little fellow follows me.-Unknown

Write a LetterWrite a letter to your son / daughter on their 12th birthday.Tell them how proud you are of them. Be specific. Tell them about the most important things in life.Date it (month, day, full year) and sign it.Keep a copy or two, just in case they get mad at you in their teen years and throw it away!It may or may not mean a lot to them today.It will probably mean the world to them in 30 or 40 years.

Don’t know the source of “Write a Letter” but it is great advice. It can be used at other ages as well.

It has been said, “A dad is someone who has photos in his wallet where he used to have money.” My dad used to say, “I invested all my money in three boys.” Investing your money, time, love in your family - that is about the best investment out there.

To all dads, Happy Father’s Day!

A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. -Isaiah 32:2

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, June 17, AD 2009.

PS - To those traveling to the SBC, hope to see some of you there. Leave a few Gospel tracts along the way, and tell somebody in Louisville about Jesus.

Monday, June 15, 2009

“Four decades ago when I responded to God’s call to the gospel ministry, the thought that theologically conservative Baptist leaders would discuss the wisdom of alcohol consumption among Christians much less pastors never would have entered my mind.

“But this very debate is bubbling to the surface now in our day when the culture around us more and more invades the church instead of the church being the salt and light we are called to be.

“This volume will be a valued resource to those who hold to abstinence, a way to engage the debate for those who do not, and a vital encouragement to young Christians who are seeking to make their own way through this debate. Read it and reap.”
-O. S. Hawkins, president, GuideStone Financial Resources, SBC. Endorsement of the book, Alcohol Today.

Book Signing with Peter Lumpkins & Jerry VinesI’ll say more about Alcohol Today later. Just wanted to remind anyone going to the Pastor’s Conference and Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Kentucky about an important book signing.

Peter Lumpkins and Jerry Vines will be present for a Book Signing Monday, June 22, 2009 from 11 am - 12 noon. The Book Signing will take place in the LifeWay Bookstore part of the SBC Display area.

The book is Alcohol Today: Abstinence in an Age of Indulgence, Hannibal Books, 2009; $14.95. It is written by Peter Lumpkins; the Foreword is written by Jerry Vines. Lord willing, I will be at this Book Signing; hope you will be too. Alcohol Today should also be available for sale at the SBC LifeWay Bookstore throughout the convention.

This book represents one of the most needed messages for our SBC today. Buy it for yourself; buy it for your pastor, youth minister, teenagers.

Alcohol Today can be purchased directly from Peter Lumpkins at alcoholtoday.org or hannibalbooks.com (800/747-0738), amazon.com, or ordered from a bookstore near you. You might want to ask your local Christian bookstore to keep it in stock and buy it through them.

Note: I’ve been asked if non-pastors can attend the SBC Pastor’s Conference. The answer is yes. Anyone is welcome to attend this time of inspiration, great preaching and singing.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, June 15, AD 2009.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Satan has no quicker way to end your ministry than by immorality. A preacher friend of mine, one who had been a good, godly pastor, confessed, “I’ve become the fallen preacher that I used to preach against.”

Pastor, there have been preachers smarter and more talented than you, that have fallen. It can happen to any of us. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

1. Don’t fight immorality, run away from it. Be man enough to ignore those who will make fun of that strategy. “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Joseph’s strategy still works (Genesis 39). Do not give yourself the opportunity to do wrong.

2. Never be behind closed doors with a person of the opposite sex. At church leave a door open or sit with her in an open, public place. Put narrow long, vertical windows on every church door (except the restrooms :-) ). Be very conscious and careful of counseling situations. Do not abuse your respect and authority. Do not give “great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14).

3. Do not travel, even for short distances, when it is just you and a person of the opposite sex. Unless you are both single and on a date.

4. Stay away from pornography and near pornography. Don’t study it, don’t dabble in it, don’t excuse it, don’t nothing. Stay away! Don’t waste God’s money on cable channels that show R rated movies. I don’t care what the cool preachers are doing, don’t! Do spend God’s money on any kind of an internet filter that works in keeping out porn.

5. There is now, or there will be, a woman in your church that you admire and with whom you have a lot in common. You enjoy her company. That is fine to a point. But that indicates a red flag. Never let it go beyond that stage. Keep the fence up, keep your distance. Treat all the women the same; treat them respectfully; don’t make a fool of yourself.

6. There are some emotional needs a woman has that you cannot righteously fulfill. Have sense enough to know that.

7. Don’t go around hugging all the pretty women in church. A man used to do that; no one was overly surprised when one day he left his wife and family for another woman. My preacher dad advised, “Just shake a woman’s hand, and don’t do that for too long.” When an emotionally distraught woman came forward during the invitation, dad had a gracious way of taking her hand, and placing his Bible on her shoulder, between him and her. Be careful what you do; be careful how it looks to others. Yes, others are watching.If a woman insists on hugging you, fine, don’t make a scene. Also, don’t make it a habit.

8. Don’t joke with anyone, especially one of the opposite sex, about sexual matters.

9. Listen very closely to what your wife says about other women in the church. She notices things you’re too dumb to see. If she tells you to watch out for that woman, you better do it. A seminary professor said a preacher who refuses to listen to his wife about such matters, is a fool. She just may save your ministry, and everything good about your life.

10. Stay close to Jesus. Do not neglect your personal spiritual walk. “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). Read Proverbs 6 & 7 and 1 Corinthians 6:13-20 on a regular basis.

11. Stay close to your wife and family. Take care of your church, take better care of your family.

12. Ask God often for His protection, mercy, grace.

Late in life the outstanding preacher Vance Havner said, “I pray every day that God would not let me do some foolish thing that would cause people to forget every good thing I ever did for Jesus.”

Monday, June 8, 2009

The following story was told by a preacher as absolutely true. Names and locations are left out for obvious reasons.

Years ago a prominent pastor was suspected of immorality. He often visited a church member’s cabin, so the member set up a camera. This was in the days when you never heard of this being done.

Sure enough, the camera caught the preacher in a immodest state of undress, with another woman (not his wife) also scantily clad; the pastor smoking a cigarette.

The evidence was duly shown during a called church meeting. A woman looked at the incriminating photo and exclaimed, “I never thought I’d see my pastor smoking a cigarette!”

Sometimes we have to laugh to keep from crying. I guess the moral of this story is, whatever you do, don’t smoke!

But seriously, there may be a pastor out there who is about to ruin his ministry and bring reproach on the cause of Christ. Please wait and read tomorrow’s post. It will be much more serious. It could even save your ministry.

Friday, June 5, 2009

About the blogGulf Coast Pastor will primarily be about spiritual themes. It will cover subjects in the Bible, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), and hopefully articles that will encourage young pastors and new believers in Jesus Christ. I am a big believer in us knowing what we believe and why we believe it. I believe in keeping things simple so the common man can easily understand. I’m pretty common myself.

I enjoy gardening, growing and grafting fruit trees, and the outdoors, so some of that may slip in. I grew up hunting, fishing, trapping. I enjoy history. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it’s fullness” (Psalm 24:1), so I reserve the right to post on most any subject.

I admit I’m not the best at grammar. But if you understand what I write, then maybe my grammar’s not so bad after all.

I enjoy dry humor and that is not always easily conveyed in print. I will not always use the :-) symbol when I’m joking. So if my comments upset you, consider that I may be just kidding. Or, that I’m getting old and crotchety. But I attempt to “speak the truth in love” (Galatians 4:15).

About BrumbelowDavid R. Brumbelow is pastor of a small Southern Baptist church in Highlands, Texas, USA (Northside Baptist Church) and a graduate of Sam Houston High School, Houston; East Texas Baptist University, Marshall (B.A.); and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas (M.Div.).

David is the author of a book about his dad, The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow, Hannibal Books, 2005. Read my book and you’ll probably know more than you ought to know about me and my family :-).
Update: He is also author of Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence, Free Church Press.

I grew up in a preacher’s home. My two brothers are also pastors. I believe it is a great privilege to serve as pastor.

Rules of Engagement1. For now comments are moderated.
2. You’re welcome to comment, agree, disagree, question.
3. Keep it respectful; keep the language clean.
4. I use my name, I expect you to use yours.
5. Anonymous commenters will be on a short leash. If you have good reason to be anonymous, contact me and explain why.
6. I'm learning blogging as I go, so be patient.

Check out the articles at this site in the lower right margin. Thanks for stopping by.

UPDATE: To whom it may concern,
Upon my untimely death, it is my wish and testament that Gulf Coast Pastor remain on the internet and all articles remain open and accessible to any who desire to read them. My hope and prayer is that they be a help and blessing for many years to come. I’m not planning on dying anytime soon, but just wanted to get this on record.
Also, as long as you give attribution, you are welcome to use these articles if you find them helpful.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, 2-24-AD 2016.

Southern Baptist Pastor

Serving the Lord on the upper Gulf Coast of Texas.
Author of The Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow, Hannibal Books; and Ancient Wine and the Bible, Free Church Press.
See Article, "About Gulf Coast Pastor" for more information.